Rowing regatta and other closures for Lake Ruataniwha

For October 2009 - April 2010
Please note:

• Environment Canterbury gives notice under its Navigation Safety Bylaws 2005 that powered craft will not be allowed on Lake Ruataniwha on all or part of the Rowing Regatta Days set out below.
• South Island Rowing Incorporated (SIRI) is authorised to allow powered craft on the lake for periods before the day’s rowing events commence and after they conclude.
• SIRI may substitute an additional day as a Rowing Regatta Day if weather
  conditions cause the cancellation of rowing events on a Rowing Regatta Day.
• Practice Days for Rowing Regattas will also occur on the days before Regatta Days. Powered craft are not excluded on such days, but skippers are requested to take care that in accordance with Clause 2.5 of the Bylaws, vessel wakes do not create unnecessary danger or risk to rowers.
• The temporary regulations put in place from December 12th 2009 to trial improved lake safety, make The Bay area to the north of the rowing course a non-powered craft area. There is therefore no need for any powercraft to cross the rowing course, other than vessels acting in a support, safety, or coaching role to rowing or other paddle craft. A line of individual buoys marking this outer (southern) side of the rowing course will be progressively replaced by a full line of large mussel type buoys joined by surface or near surface ropes, which will be impassable. Paddle craft can still cross the course provided all care is taken when skiffs are on the course.

Event Name	Regatta days
Concept 2 "R2K" Singles Regatta Mainland Interprovincial Regatta	3-4 October 2009
Aoraki 1000 Regatta/Monster Row, Run Bike Challenge	31 October to 1 November 2009
Meridian Otago Championship Regatta	16 to 17 January 2010
Meridian Canterbury Championship Regatta	30 to 31 January 2010
Meridian South Island Championship Regatta	6 to 7 February 2010**
Meridian South Island Schools Championship Regatta	6 to 7 March 2010
NZ Secondary Schools Championship Regatta (MAADI Cup)	22 to 27 March 2010
Note: Rowers will be practicing on the lake before the regatta	** The Lake cannot be closed for a rowing regatta on a public holiday weekend, so the lake will be open for other users. Note that the new rules, particularly no powercraft in the Bay, apply. It is recommended that paddle craft other than rowing skiffs do not cross the course during the event. It is requested that powercraft keep clear of the rowing course and launching area and minimise the effects of their wakes on the rowing course.

Other Closure Events on Lake Ruataniwha
The Environment Canterbury Regional Harbourmaster, under the authority of the
Environment Canterbury Navigation Safety Bylaws 2005, may provide that Lake
Ruataniwha is reserved for the holding of other events on certain specified days.
On these dates no master shall navigate any vessels on the lake other than when
allowed by the event organiser.

Waitaki Lakes information

Download the Waitaki Lakes Recreational Information pamphlet as a PDF file. The pamphlet has been jointly produced by the main agencies responsible for maintaining the lakes area and its facilities, and contains useful information for day-trippers, campers, boaties and water users.

Included are sections on safe boat navigation, camping, hydro power station statistics, wildlife and plants, local walks, and important contact information.

Waitaki Lakes recreational information pamphlet (pdf 787 kB)

Lake Ruataniwha Bylaw Change

There have been amendments to the Navigation Safety Bylaws relating to Lake Ruataniwha, and take the form of Temporary Regulation under Clause 7 .1(1) to trial revised rules for the Lake aimed at improving boating safety.
View the amendments for more information.